Burning Bridges

 In 2018, a mass layoff occurred, affecting thousands of individuals across the state of Michigan. My job was among those cut from the roster that year. Many took to social media with their thoughts and feelings about the situation. Some thought it prudent to maintain an impartial position, stating it was important to avoid burning bridges because "you never know which ones you might need to cross down the road." 

Courtesy Google Images

In recent months, it has become apparent that there is a bridge that needs to burn. It is connected to the road that leads back to the life we knew in our rearview mirror. Remember it? Some call it the good ol' days. While there is nothing wrong with reminiscing about days gone by, we should be cautious to avoid longing for those moments. In Genesis, we can read of the account surrounding Abraham's nephew, Lot, who had gone to live in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of the land had become depraved in heart, acting wickedly, and God was determined to destroy the land. Abraham interceded on behalf of the land's inhabitants, which prompted angels to be sent into the city and rescue Lot's family. We can see how depraved these people were as the men surrounded Lot's home, demanding that the men be released to them so they could have their way with them. 

Lot's family was then instructed to flee the territory. Lot had two sons-in-law who refused. They loved their lives too much. So Lot left with his wife and two daughters. They were also warned to flee and not look back.

"So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  BUT his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." ~Genesis 19:25-26 ESV

Lot's wife couldn't help herself.  Bible scholars and commentators believe that she wasn't taking a cursory glance into her rearview mirror to see what would become of the cities. Instead, she longed for the life she was leaving.

Later, Jesus warns His disciples: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 ESV).

OUCH!

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But this is not the first time anything has been said about turning away from a past life (or livelihood) to follow God. Nor the second.

The prophet Elijah was instructed by the LORD to find Elisha and anoint him as successor to his ministry. Elisha was plowing his family's field when "Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.' And he said to him, 'Go back again, for what have I done to you?' And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him" (1 Kings 19:19-21 ESV).

He kissed his parents goodbye, sacrificed his oxen, gave the people nearby the meat, ate with them, and then turned away to serve Elijah's ministry. And he served Elijah faithfully for 10 years before Elijah was taken by God to heaven, and Elisha's ministry began. Scholars say this act of sacrificing the oxen was Elisha burning a bridge. He was putting to death his old life, leaving him no fallback plan should things with the ministry go wrong.

Like Elisha, I believe answering the call of God to follow Him is to be without reservation. There is a cost, like any commitment. But it's worth it. Jesus promised that there will be people who will revile and persecute any who would follow Him, because of Him.

"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will find it.'" ~Mark 8:34-35 ESV

It's up to us to decide. The choice was given to us long ago.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" ~Joshua 24:15 ESV

The Story Behind I have Decided to Follow Jesus

Recently, I heard the story behind a favorite hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. The video above tells it so eloquently, be sure to watch it. Then go all in. No middle ground, one-foot-in-one-foot-out living will do. Eventually that will catch up to us and a decision will be required. Why not now? Persecution may come. Death threats could happen. Rejection and abandonment, perhaps. But hear the words of Jesus:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~Matthew 5:10-12 ESV

The blessing of the LORD is far better than anything this world can offer.

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. ~Proverbs 10:22 ESV

Until next time, let God be magnified! 💝 Karlene J 💝

Hope Deferred, Choices to be Made

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

~ Proverbs 13:12 ESV ~

A promise was made, and the wait for fulfillment is first met with anticipation and excitement. And then time passed. Days faded to weeks. Weeks melted into years. And the number of years ratcheted upwards into the double digits.

One might question, "Did I hear correctly?" or ... as think as Sarai thought, maybe God needs help.

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 

~ Genesis 16:1-2 NKJV ~

What was their promise? A nation. Their descendants would be so numerous that they would outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore and the stars of the sky. And yet, Sarai had been unable to conceive. A disgrace in her culture.

Discouragement, disappointment, defeat, and depression are words often associated with the deferment of a promise, hope, or expectation. Unless caused by some chemical imbalance in the brain, even depression is often associated with a loss of hope or unmet expectations.

Courtesy Google Images

We can't be certain Sarai (later called Sarah) experienced these feelings, but her actions make me wonder. She decided to assist God with the promise, and with the involvement of a slave woman, Ishmael was born. 

And yet, God said this was not the son of his promise (Genesis 17:18-19).

Many more years passed before Isaac was born. Scripture tells us that his name means laughter. Sarah gave him this name, as the promise fulfilled bubbled up within, removing the shame and reproach she carried due to her barrenness.

The moment Jesus was born, all heaven rejoiced, sending angels to announce His arrival. After 400 years of silence, it is reasonable to say that people had lost hope. But He came, as promised. Not on our time, but on time.

And yet, when hope is deferred, God seems silent, promises appear to have been forgotten, and how many of us fall prey to the thoughts that nothing will ever change?

As the proverb says, the heart becomes sick. I don't know if this is literal, but heartbreak is a common thing among humans.

There are questions we must ask ourselves when we perceive a delay in God's promises.

• If God never fulfilled the promise, would you continue to trust Him?
• If things never changed, would you continue to follow Him?
• Does the promise fulfilled glorify Him, or for your benefit alone? (James 4:3-4) 

Reflecting on a previous message, What Choice Do I Have? I must remind us all that we have a choice to make. This life we have been gifted is for His pleasure:

• Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
• For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
• In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved ... In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:5-6, 11-12).
• Everyone who is called by My name whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)
• You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
• The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. (Proverbs 16:4)
• 
  And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)
• He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
• For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

The choice is not easy, but it is simple. In all things look to Him who knows the best path. His ways are not ours. His timing is perfect. His plans are for our good, and not evil--always.

So, if you, like me, struggle with life's challenges and disappointments, it's time to decide.

Let's choose Jesus. Choose trust. For His glory, lay our own agendas and personal desires at His feet and surrender our will to His.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ~ Psalm 30:5 ~

Until next time, keep looking up. 💝 Karlene J 💝